Mated to My Intended's Enemy novel Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Jealous

Victoria

My fingers trembled as I followed Leo out of his massive estate toward a sleek black Audi in the driveway. The morning sun gleamed off the polished surface, nearly blinding me.

Just as we approached the car, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I froze, recognizing the ringtone I’d assigned to Enzo. My heart hammered against my ribs as I fumbled to retrieve it.

"I should probably—" I started, but before I could finish, Leo’s hand closed over mine.

"Who is it?" he asked, his voice deceptively calm.

I swallowed hard. "My stepbrother."

Something dark flickered across Leo’s face. Without warning, he plucked the still-ringing phone from my hand and answered it.

"Victoria’s phone," he said, his voice dropping to that dangerous alpha timbre that made my skin prickle.

I couldn’t hear Enzo’s response, but judging by Leo’s tightening jaw, it wasn’t pleasant.

"She’s unavailable to you," Leo stated flatly. "Now and in the future. The debt is settled. Your business is with me, not her."

I watched, transfixed, as he listened for another moment before interrupting whatever Enzo was saying.

"Let me be clear," Leo growled, and I felt the vibration of his words in my chest despite not being connected to his mindlink. "She belongs to the Shadow Pack now. To me. Any further attempt to contact her will be considered a territorial challenge."

With that, he ended the call and handed the phone back to me. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Delete his number," he instructed, his eyes never leaving mine.

I blinked up at him, torn between indignation and something far more confusing. "You can’t just decide who I talk to."

"I can and I will when it comes to him." Leo stepped closer.

"That doesn’t mean you get to control my—"

"I’m not controlling you," he cut in, his voice softening just enough to make my protest falter. "I’m protecting what’s mine."

He reached up, his thumb brushing my cheek in a gesture so tender it made my heart stutter. "I don’t share, little wolf. And I don’t tolerate other males thinking they have any claim on my mate."

The word ’mate’ hung between us, heavy with meaning I wasn’t ready to acknowledge.

"You’re... jealous?" I asked incredulously, the realization dawning on me.

Leo’s eyes darkened, and a slow, predatory smile curved his lips. "Is that so surprising?"

"I just didn’t expect to hear that word from you," I admitted, my pulse quickening.

"Get used to it," he murmured, opening the car door for me. "There’s a lot about me you don’t know yet."

The drive to the mall was mercifully quiet as I tried to process the intensity of our exchange. Leo Moretti, powerful Alpha of the Shadow Pack, was jealous over me. The thought was both terrifying and exhilarating.

When we arrived at the Crescent Moon Plaza—apparently yet another property owned by his pack—I couldn’t help but gawk. The gleaming glass structure rose at least six stories high, with luxury brand names displayed prominently on each level. I’d never been anywhere so opulent.

As we walked through the main entrance, I noticed how people reacted to Leo—averting their eyes in deference or straightening their posture as he passed. It was like watching the sea part for a predator.

My own reception was mixed. Some stared curiously, others with barely concealed disdain as they caught my scent. Leo seemed oblivious to none of it, his hand possessively resting on the small of my back as he guided me through the atrium.

His phone buzzed repeatedly, and I watched as his expression tensed with each notification. After the fifth consecutive message, he sighed heavily.

"Something wrong?" I asked.

"Pack business," he replied, his eyes scanning another message. Then he paused, tilting his head slightly in that way I was beginning to recognize meant he was using his mindlink to communicate.

After a moment, he focused back on me, looking genuinely apologetic. "I need to handle something. It shouldn’t take long."

I noticed the tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers flexed with restrained energy. "You seem really busy," I offered. "I can browse around on my own if you need to work. You can join me when you’re done."

He studied me carefully. "You wouldn’t mind?"

"I’m used to doing things alone," I assured him, then winced inwardly at how pathetic that sounded.

Leo’s expression softened. "That’s going to change," he promised. "But if you’re sure, I’ll handle this quickly." He reached into his wallet and handed me a black credit card. "Get anything you want. Anything."

I stared at the card, uncomfortable with the casual display of wealth. "Leo, I don’t need—"

"It’s not about need," he interrupted gently. "Consider it my first gift to you as Luna."

Before I could argue further, he leaned down and pressed his lips to my cheek, lingering just long enough to make my skin tingle. "I’ll find you in thirty minutes," he murmured against my skin. "Don’t leave the building."

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